Hampshire’s relegation fate was left on a knife-edge as bad light stopped play in their critical Rothesay County Championship clash with Surrey , with the game agonisingly close to a conclusion.

Strugglers Hampshire were 148 for nine when the umpires led the teams off early, with just one wicket left in hand and the winning line 33 runs away.

Surrey were using two spinners at the time, with India’s Rahul Chahar looking to add to figures of seven for 45 as he made a splash on his one-match contract, but the officials resisted the temptation to let the game play out.

Hampshire will be demoted to Division Two if they lose on day four and Durham avoid defeat to Yorkshire. A draw looks the likeliest result in that match, with bad light interruptions slowing progress at Headingley.

The W

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